“Who helps the helpers?” Marissa Brassfield asks, noting that behind every successful entrepreneur is a competent and reliable team. However, even the most capable team member needs extra guidance and support.

Brassfield suggests that an entrepreneur should have multiple support systems to help their team members perform at their best. Some of her suggestions include creating mentorship opportunities and providing access to training — both for work skills and developing good habits. These additional resources, she says, will help the team thrive.

While their research has shown that a lot of people (i.e. 8 in 10 Norwegians) are “addicted to work to the point that it affects their health,” they note that “workaholism” isn’t a formal, medically recognized diagnosis. That means there’s no treatment plan or recognized way to successfully ease the stress.

Whenever you create a to-do list, the default first step is to prioritize it. One problem is that everything on the list becomes a priority — and the lower-priority items you’ll “do later” never make the cut.

Executive coach Ed Batista encourages professionals not only to prioritize but also to recognize the limitations in doing so.

Instead of focusing on a prioritized list, Batista recommends a triage approach: focus on high-impact activities and purposely ignore tasks that aren’t. “Remember,” Batista said, “this is not about making a list but deciding where the cut-off point is and sticking to it.”

What news caught your attention this week? Share it in the comments below!

Managing Editor

As the Managing Editor of the oDesk blog, Amy Sept works with regular and guest writers to share information that helps freelancers and businesses navigate the future of work. A writer and social media pro, she owns Nimbyist Communications and often works remotely with non-profits, tech companies and small business owners.

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